Display device with touch detection function and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

According to an aspect, a display device with a touch detection function includes: a substrate; a display area in which pixels each constituted by different color regions are arranged in a matrix and that includes color columns in which the color regions of the same colors extend side by side; a touch detection electrode that includes a plurality of conductive thin wires; and a drive electrode. Each of the conductive thin wires includes a plurality of portions at each of which the conductive thin wire extends in a direction at an angle with respect to a direction of extension of the color regions, and a plurality of bent portions at each of which the conductive thin wire is bent with the angle changed. The conductive thin wires include portions each overlapping all of the color columns in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the substrate.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/201,115, filed on Mar. 7, 2014, which application claimspriority to Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2013-067641 filed inthe Japan Patent Office on Mar. 27, 2013, the entire content of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device and an electronicapparatus that are capable of detecting an external proximity object,and particularly to a display device with a touch detection function andan electronic apparatus that are capable of detecting an externalproximity object based on a change in electrostatic capacitance.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a touch detection device commonly called a touch panelthat can detect an external proximity object has attracted attention.The touch panel is mounted on or integrated with a display device, suchas a liquid crystal display device, and is used in a display device witha touch detection function. The display device with the touch detectionfunction displays various button images, for example, on the displaydevice so as to allow information input by using the touch panel as asubstitute for typical mechanical buttons. The display device with thetouch detection function having the touch panel as described above doesnot need an input device, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a keypad, andthus tends to be more widely used also in a computer, a portableinformation terminal, such as a mobile phone, and so on.

Several types of the touch detection device exist, such as an opticaltype, a resistance type, and an electrostatic capacitance type. Usingthe electrostatic capacitance type touch detection device in theportable information terminal, for example, can achieve apparatuses thathave a relatively simple structure and consume low power. For example,Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2010-197576(JP-A-2010-197576) discloses a touch panel in which a translucentelectrode pattern is made invisible.

The display device with the touch detection function is further requiredto have lower-resistance touch detection electrodes to achieve a smallerthickness, a larger screen size, or a higher definition. A translucentconductive oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as a material oftranslucent electrodes for the touch detection electrodes. Anelectrically conductive material such as a metallic material iseffectively used for reducing the resistance of the touch detectionelectrodes. However, using the electrically conductive material such asa metallic material can cause a moire pattern to be seen due tointerference between pixels of the display device and the electricallyconductive material such as a metallic material.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a display device with atouch detection function and an electronic apparatus that can reduce thepossibility of a moire pattern being seen, while including touchdetection electrodes of an electrically conductive material such as ametallic material.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, a display device with a touch detection functionincludes: a substrate; a display area in which pixels each constitutedby different color regions are arranged in a matrix in a plane parallelto a surface of the substrate and that includes color columns in whichthe color regions of the same colors extend side by side; a touchdetection electrode that includes a plurality of conductive thin wiresextending in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate; and adrive electrode that has electrostatic capacitance with respect to thetouch detection electrode. Each of the conductive thin wires includes aplurality of portions at each of which the conductive thin wire extendsin a direction at an angle with respect to a direction of extension ofthe color regions, and a plurality of bent portions at each of which theconductive thin wire is bent with the angle changed. The conductive thinwires include portions each overlapping all of the color columns in adirection orthogonal to the surface of the substrate.

According to another aspect, an electronic apparatus includes a displaydevice with a touch detection function that includes: a substrate; adisplay area in which pixels each constituted by different color regionsare arranged in a matrix in a plane parallel to a surface of thesubstrate and that includes color columns in which the color regions ofthe same colors extend side by side; a touch detection electrode thatincludes a plurality of conductive thin wires extending in a planeparallel to the surface of the substrate; and a drive electrode that haselectrostatic capacitance with respect to the touch detection electrode.Each of the conductive thin wires includes a plurality of portions ateach of which the conductive thin wire extends in a direction at anangle with respect to a direction of extension of the color regions, anda plurality of bent portions at each of which the conductive thin wireis bent with the angle changed. The conductive thin wires includeportions each overlapping all of the color columns in a directionorthogonal to the surface of the substrate.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay device with a touch detection function according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris neither in contact with nor in proximity of a device for explaining abasic principle of an electrostatic capacitance type touch detectionsystem;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of anequivalent circuit in the state illustrated in FIG. 2 in which a fingeris neither in contact with nor in proximity of a device;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris in contact with or in proximity of a device for explaining the basicprinciple of the electrostatic capacitance type touch detection system;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of theequivalent circuit in the state illustrated in FIG. 4 in which a fingeris in contact with or in proximity of a device;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of waveforms of a drivesignal and a touch detection signal;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a module on which thedisplay device with the touch detection function is mounted;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a module on which thedisplay device with the touch detection function is mounted;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel arrangement of thedisplay unit with the touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example ofdrive electrodes and touch detection electrodes of the display unit withthe touch detection function according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a timing waveform diagram illustrating an operation exampleof the display device with the touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement of the touchdetection electrodes according to the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a relation between each ofthe touch detection electrodes according to the embodiment and colorregions;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining a relation between a touchdetection electrode according to a first modification of the embodimentand the color regions;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a second modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatusto which the display device with the touch detection function or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and modifications is applied;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatusto which the display device with the touch detection function or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and modifications is applied;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the example of the electronicapparatus to which the display device with the touch detection functionor the display device according to the embodiment and modifications isapplied;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatusto which the display device with the touch detection function or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and modifications is applied;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatusto which the display device with the touch detection function or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and modifications is applied;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatusto which the display device with the touch detection function or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and modifications is applied;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating the example of the electronicapparatus to which the display device with the touch detection functionor the display device according to the embodiment and modifications isapplied;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the example of the electronicapparatus to which the display device with the touch detection functionor the display device according to the embodiment and modifications isapplied;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating the example of the electronicapparatus to which the display device with the touch detection functionor the display device according to the embodiment and modifications isapplied;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating the example of the electronicapparatus to which the display device with the touch detection functionor the display device according to the embodiment and modifications isapplied;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating the example of the electronicapparatus to which the display device with the touch detection functionor the display device according to the embodiment and modifications isapplied;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the example of the electronicapparatus to which the display device with the touch detection functionor the display device according to the embodiment and modifications isapplied; and

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatusto which the display device with the touch detection function or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and modifications is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment for practicing the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description ofthe embodiment below will not limit the present disclosure. Theconstituent elements described below include elements that can easily beenvisaged by those skilled in the art and substantially identicalelements. The constituent elements described below can also be combinedas appropriate. The description will be made in the following order.

1. Embodiment (display device with touch detection function)

2. Application examples (electronic apparatuses)

Examples in which a display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the above-mentioned embodiment is applied to electronicapparatuses

3. Aspects of present disclosure

1. Embodiment 1-1. Configuration Examples Overall Configuration Example

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay device with a touch detection function according to anembodiment. This display device with a touch detection function 1includes a display unit with a touch detection function 10, a controlunit 11, a gate driver 12, a source driver 13, a drive electrode driver14, and a touch detection unit 40. The display device with the touchdetection function 1 is a display device in which the display unit withthe touch detection function 10 has a built-in touch detection function.The display unit with the touch detection function 10 is a deviceobtained by integrating a liquid crystal display unit 20 using liquidcrystal display elements as display elements with an electrostaticcapacitance type touch detection device 30. The display unit with thetouch detection function 10 may be a device obtained by mounting theelectrostatic capacitance type touch detection device 30 on the liquidcrystal display unit 20 using the liquid crystal display elements as thedisplay elements. The liquid crystal display unit 20 may be, forexample, an organic EL display device.

The liquid crystal display unit 20 is a device that performs display bysequentially scanning on each horizontal line according to a scan signalVscan supplied from the gate driver 12, as will be described later. Thecontrol unit 11 is a circuit that supplies control signals to each ofthe gate driver 12, the source driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14,and the touch detection unit 40 based on an externally supplied videosignal Vdisp, control signals to each of the gate driver 12, and thuscontrols them so as to operate in synchronization with each other.

The gate driver 12 has a function to sequentially select one horizontalline to be display-driven by the display unit with the touch detectionfunction 10 based on the control signal supplied from the control unit11.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that supplies pixel signals Vpix torespective sub-pixels SPix (to be described later) of the display unitwith the touch detection function 10 based on the control signalsupplied from the control unit 11.

The drive electrode driver 14 is a circuit that supplies a drive signalVcom to drive electrodes COML (to be described later) of the displayunit with the touch detection function 10 based on the control signalsupplied from the control unit 11.

The touch detection unit 40 is a circuit that detects existence of atouch (a contact or proximity state which will be described later) tothe touch detection device 30 based on the control signal supplied fromthe control unit 11 and touch detection signals Vdet supplied from thetouch detection device 30 of the display unit with the touch detectionfunction 10. If a touch exists, the touch detection device 30 obtains,for example, coordinates of the touch in a touch detection region. Thetouch detection unit 40 includes a touch detection signal amplifier 42,an A/D converter 43, a signal processing unit 44, a coordinateextraction unit 45, and a detection timing control unit 46.

The touch detection signal amplifier 42 amplifies the touch detectionsignals Vdet supplied from the touch detection device 30. The touchdetection signal amplifier 42 may include a low-pass analog filter thatremoves high-frequency components (noise components) included in thetouch detection signals Vdet to extract touch components, and outputseach of the touch components.

Basic Principle of Electrostatic Capacitance Type Touch Detection

The touch detection device 30 operates based on a basic principle ofelectrostatic capacitance type touch detection, and outputs the touchdetection signals Vdet. A description will be made of the basicprinciple of the touch detection in the display device with the touchdetection function 1 of the embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris neither in contact with nor in proximity of a device for explainingthe basic principle of the electrostatic capacitance type touchdetection system. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating anexample of an equivalent circuit in the state illustrated in FIG. 2 inwhich a finger is neither in contact with nor in proximity of a device.FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris in contact with or in proximity of a device for explaining the basicprinciple of the electrostatic capacitance type touch detection system.FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of theequivalent circuit in the state illustrated in FIG. 4 in which a fingeris in contact with or in proximity of a device. FIG. 6 is a diagramillustrating an example of waveforms of the drive signal and the touchdetection signal.

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, capacitive elements C1 andC1′ include each a pair of electrodes, that is, a drive electrode E1 anda touch detection electrode E2 that are arranged opposite to each otherwith a dielectric body D interposed therebetween. As illustrated in FIG.3, one end of the capacitive element C1 is coupled to an alternatingsignal source (drive signal source) S, and the other end thereof iscoupled to a voltage detector (touch detection unit) DET. The voltagedetector DET is, for example, an integration circuit included in thetouch detection signal amplifier 42 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Applying an alternating-current rectangular wave Sg having apredetermined frequency (such as approximately several kilohertz toseveral hundred kilohertz) from the alternating signal source S to thedrive electrode E1 (one end of the capacitive element C1) causes anoutput waveform (touch detection signal Vdet) to occur via the voltagedetector DET coupled to the side of the touch detection electrode E2(the other end of the capacitive element C1). The alternating-currentrectangular wave Sg corresponds to a touch drive signal Vcomt which willbe described later.

In the state in which the finger is not in contact with (nor inproximity of) the device (non-contact state), a current I₀ correspondingto a capacitance value of the capacitive element C1 flows in associationwith the charge and discharge of the capacitive element C1, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the voltagedetector DET converts a variation in the current I₀ corresponding to thealternating-current rectangular wave Sg into a variation in a voltage(waveform V₀ indicated by a solid line).

In the state in which the finger is in contact with (or in proximity of)the device (contact state), electrostatic capacitance C2 generated bythe finger is in contact with or in proximity of the touch detectionelectrode E2, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, a fringe component of theelectrostatic capacitance between the drive electrode E1 and the touchdetection electrode E2 is interrupted, and the capacitive element C1′having a smaller capacitance value than that of the capacitive elementC1 is obtained. Referring to the equivalent circuit illustrated in FIG.5, a current I₁ flows through the capacitive element C1′. As illustratedin FIG. 6, the voltage detector DET converts a variation in the currentI₁ corresponding to the alternating-current rectangular wave Sg into avariation in a voltage (waveform V₁ indicated by a dotted line). In thiscase, the waveform V₁ has a smaller amplitude than that of theabove-described waveform V₀. This indicates that an absolute value |ΔV|of a voltage difference between the waveform V₀ and the waveform V₁changes according to an influence of an object, such as a finger,approaching from the outside. To accurately detect the absolute value|ΔV| of the voltage difference between the waveform V₀ and the waveformV₁, the voltage detector DET preferably performs an operation includinga period Reset during which the charge or discharge of the capacitor isreset by switching in the circuit in accordance with the frequency ofthe alternating-current rectangular wave Sg.

The touch detection device 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured toperform the touch detection by sequentially scanning one detection blockat a time according to the drive signals Vcom (touch drive signals Vcomtto be described later) supplied from the drive electrode driver 14.

The touch detection device 30 is configured to output the touchdetection signals Vdet for each detection block from a plurality oftouch detection electrodes TDL (to be described later) via the voltagedetectors DET illustrated in FIG. 3 or 5, and supply the touch detectionsignals Vdet to the touch detection signal amplifier 42 of the touchdetection unit 40.

The A/D converter 43 is a circuit that samples each analog signal outputfrom the touch detection signal amplifier 42 at a timing synchronizedwith the drive signals Vcom, and converts the sampled analog signal intoa digital signal.

The signal processing unit 44 includes a digital filter that reducesfrequency components (noise components) included in the output signalsof the A/D converter 43 other than the frequency at which the drivesignals Vcom have been sampled. The signal processing unit 44 is a logiccircuit that detects existence of a touch to the touch detection device30 based on the output signals of the A/D converter 43. The signalprocessing unit 44 performs processing to extract only a difference ofvoltage caused by the finger. The difference of voltage caused by thefinger is the absolute value |ΔV| of the difference between the waveformV₀ and the waveform V₁ described above. The signal processing unit 44may perform a calculation of averaging the absolute values |ΔV| perdetection block to obtain an average value of the absolute values |ΔV|.This allows the signal processing unit 44 to reduce the influence of thenoise. The signal processing unit 44 compares the detected difference ofvoltage caused by the finger with a predetermined threshold voltage. Thesignal processing unit 44 determines that the state is the contact stateof the external proximity object approaching from the outside if thedifference of voltage is equal to or larger than the threshold voltage,and determines that the state is the non-contact state of the externalproximity object if the difference of voltage is smaller than thethreshold voltage. The touch detection unit 40 can perform the touchdetection in this manner.

The coordinate extraction unit 45 is a logic circuit that obtains touchpanel coordinates of a touch when the touch is detected in the signalprocessing unit 44. The detection timing control unit 46 performscontrol so as to operate the A/D converter 43, the signal processingunit 44, and the coordinate extraction unit 45 in synchronization witheach other. The coordinate extraction unit 45 outputs the touch panelcoordinates as a signal output Vout.

Module

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams each illustrating an example of a module onwhich the display device with the touch detection function is mounted.When the display device with the touch detection function 1 is mountedon a module, the above-described drive electrode driver 14 may be formedon a TFT substrate 21 that is a glass substrate, as illustrated in FIG.7.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the display device with the touch detectionfunction 1 includes the display unit with the touch detection function10, the drive electrode driver 14, and a chip on glass (COG) 19A. FIG. 7schematically illustrates the drive electrodes COML and the touchdetection electrodes TDL in the display unit with a touch detectionfunction 10 viewed in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the TFTsubstrate 21 to be described later. The drive electrodes COML and thetouch detection electrodes TDL are formed so as to three-dimensionallyintersect the drive electrodes COML. Specifically, the drive electrodesCOML are formed in a direction along one side of the display unit withthe touch detection function 10, and the touch detection electrodes TDLare formed in a direction along the other side of the display unit withthe touch detection function 10. The output terminal of the touchdetection electrodes TDL is coupled to the touch detection unit 40mounted outside this module via a terminal unit T that is provided atthe above-described other side of the display unit with the touchdetection function 10 and is composed of a flexible substrate, forexample. The drive electrode driver 14 is formed on the TFT substrate 21that is a glass substrate. The COG 19A is a chip mounted on the TFTsubstrate 21, and includes built-in circuits necessary for a displayoperation, such as the control unit 11, the gate driver 12, and thesource driver 13 illustrated in FIG. 1. The drive electrode driver 14may be built into the COG of the display device with the touch detectionfunction 1, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the module, on which the display device withthe touch detection function 1 is mounted, includes a COG 19B. The COG19B illustrated in FIG. 8 incorporates therein the drive electrodedriver 14 in additions to the above-described circuits necessary for thedisplay operation. In the display operation, the display device with thetouch detection function 1 performs line-sequential scanning on eachhorizontal line, as will be described later. In a touch detectionoperation, the display device with the touch detection function 1performs the line-sequential scanning on each detection line bysequentially applying the drive signals Vcom to the drive electrodesCOML.

Display Unit with Touch Detection Function

A configuration example of the display unit with the touch detectionfunction 10 will be described below in detail. FIG. 9 is across-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross-sectional structureof the display unit with the touch detection function according to theembodiment. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixelarrangement of the display unit with the touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment. The display unit with the touch detectionfunction 10 includes a pixel substrate 2, a counter substrate 3 arrangedfacing a surface of the pixel substrate 2 in the direction orthogonalthereto, and a liquid crystal layer 6 inserted between the pixelsubstrate 2 and the counter substrate 3.

The pixel substrate 2 includes the TFT substrate 21 as a circuitsubstrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged in a matrix abovethe TFT substrate 21, the drive electrodes COML formed between the TFTsubstrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22, and an insulation layer 24insulating the pixel electrodes 22 from the drive electrodes COML. TheTFT substrate 21 is provided with thin-film transistor (TFT) elements Trof the respective sub-pixels SPix illustrated in FIG. 10, and withwiring, including signal lines SGL that supply the pixel signals Vpix tothe respective pixel electrodes 22 illustrated in FIG. 9 and scan linesGCL that drive the respective TFT elements Tr. In this manner, thesignal lines SGL extend in a plane parallel to the surface of the TFTsubstrate 21, and supply the pixel signals Vpix for displaying an imageto the pixels. The liquid crystal display unit 20 illustrated in FIG. 10includes the sub-pixels SPix arranged in a matrix. Each of thesub-pixels SPix includes the TFT element Tr and a liquid crystal elementLC. The TFT element Tr is constituted by a thin-film transistor, and inthe present example, constituted by an n-channel metal oxidesemiconductor (MOS) TFT. One of the source and the drain of the TFTelement Tr is coupled to each of the signal lines SGL; the gate thereofis coupled to each of the scan lines GCL; and the other of the sourceand the drain thereof is coupled to one end of the liquid crystalelement LC. One end of the liquid crystal element LC is coupled, forexample, to the drain of the TFT element Tr, and the other end thereofis coupled to each of the drive electrodes COML.

The sub-pixel SPix illustrated in FIG. 10 is coupled by the scan lineGCL with other sub-pixels SPix belonging to the same row of the liquidcrystal display unit 20. The scan line GCL is coupled with the gatedriver 12, and is supplied with the scan signal Vscan from the gatedriver 12. The sub-pixel SPix is coupled with another sub-pixel SPixbelonging to the same column of the liquid crystal display unit 20 viathe signal line SGL. The signal line SGL is coupled with the sourcedriver 13, and is supplied with the pixel signals Vpix from the sourcedriver 13. The sub-pixel SPix is further coupled with another sub-pixelSPix belonging to the same row of the liquid crystal display unit 20 viathe drive electrode COML. The drive electrode COML is coupled with thedrive electrode driver 14, and is supplied with the drive signal Vcomfrom the drive electrode driver 14. This means that the sub-pixels SPixbelonging to the same one of the rows share one of the drive electrodesCOML, in the present example. The drive electrodes COML of theembodiment extend parallel to the direction of extension of the scanlines GCL. The direction of extension of the drive electrodes COML ofthe embodiment may be, for example, but not limited to, a directionparallel to the direction of extension of the signal lines SGL.

The gate driver 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 applies the scan signals Vscanto the gates of the TFT elements Tr of pixels Pix via the scan line GCLillustrated in FIG. 10 so as to sequentially select, as a target ofdisplay driving, one row (one horizontal line) of the sub-pixels SPixformed in a matrix on the liquid crystal display unit 20. The sourcedriver 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 supplies the pixel signals Vpix to therespective sub-pixels SPix constituting one horizontal line sequentiallyselected by the gate driver 12 via the signal lines SGL illustrated inFIG. 10. The sub-pixels SPix are configured to display one horizontalline according to the pixel signals Vpix thus supplied. The driveelectrode driver 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 applies the drive signals Vcomto the drive electrodes COML in each block consisting of a predeterminednumber of the drive electrodes COML illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, andthus drives the drive electrodes COML of each a block.

As describe above, the gate driver 12 sequentially selects a horizontalline on the liquid crystal display unit 20 by driving the scan line GCLso as to perform the line-sequential scanning in a time-division manner.The source driver 13 supplies the pixel signals Vpix to the sub-pixelsSPix belonging to the horizontal line so as to perform the display onthe liquid crystal display unit 20 on a horizontal line by horizontalline basis. The drive electrode driver 14 is configured to apply thedrive signals Vcom to the block including the drive electrodes COMLcorresponding to the horizontal line while this display operation isperformed.

The drive electrode COML according to the embodiment functions as adrive electrode of the liquid crystal display unit 20, and also as adrive electrode of the touch detection device 30. FIG. 11 is aperspective view illustrating a configuration example of the driveelectrodes and the touch detection electrodes of the display unit withthe touch detection function according to the embodiment. As illustratedin FIG. 9, the drive electrodes COML illustrated in FIG. 11 face thepixel electrodes 22 in the direction orthogonal to the surface of theTFT substrate 21. The touch detection device 30 includes the driveelectrodes COML provided at the pixel substrate 2 and the touchdetection electrodes TDL provided at the counter substrate 3. The touchdetection electrodes TDL include stripe-like electrode patternsextending in the direction intersecting the extending direction of theelectrode patterns of the drive electrodes COML. The touch detectionelectrodes TDL face the drive electrodes COML in the directionorthogonal to the surface of the TFT substrate 21. Each of the electrodepatterns of the touch detection electrodes TDL is coupled to an inputterminal of the touch detection signal amplifier 42 of the touchdetection unit 40. The electrode patterns of the drive electrodes COMLand the touch detection electrodes TDL generate intersecting each otherelectrostatic capacitance at intersecting portions therebetween. Thetouch detection electrodes TDL and/or the drive electrodes COML (driveelectrode blocks) are not limited to have a shape divided into aplurality of stripes. For example, the touch detection electrodes TDLand/or the drive electrodes COML (drive electrode blocks) may have acomb shape. Otherwise, in the touch detection electrodes TDL and/or thedrive electrodes COML (drive electrode blocks), a plurality of patternsonly need to be separated from each other. For example, the slitsseparating the drive electrodes COML from each other may have astraight-line shape or a curved-line shape.

When the touch detection device 30 performs the touch detectionoperation, this configuration causes the drive electrode driver 14 toperform driving so as to perform line-sequential scanning of the driveelectrode blocks in a time-division manner. This leads to sequentialselection of one detection block of the drive electrodes COML in a scandirection Scan. The touch detection device 30 outputs the touchdetection signal Vdet from each of the touch detection electrodes TDL.The touch detection device 30 is configured to perform the touchdetection of one detection block in this manner. This means that thedrive electrode block corresponds to the drive electrode E1 whereas thetouch detection electrode TDL corresponds to the touch detectionelectrode E2 in the above-described basic principle of touch detection,and the touch detection device 30 is configured to detect the touchaccording to the basic principle. As illustrated in FIG. 11, theelectrode patterns intersecting each other constitute an electrostaticcapacitance type touch sensor in a matrix form. This also enablesdetection of a position where the external proximity object is incontact therewith or in proximity thereof by scanning the entire touchdetection surface of the touch detection device 30.

The liquid crystal layer 6 modulates light passing therethroughaccording to the state of an electric field, and includes liquidcrystals of a horizontal electric field mode, such as a fringe fieldswitching (FFS) mode or an in-plane switching (IPS) mode. An orientationfilm may be interposed between the liquid crystal layer 6 and the pixelsubstrate 2, and between the liquid crystal layer 6 and the countersubstrate 3, which are illustrated in FIG. 9.

The counter substrate 3 includes a glass substrate 31 and a color filter32 formed at one surface of the glass substrate 31. The touch detectionelectrodes TDL serving as detection electrodes of the touch detectiondevice 30 are formed at the other surface of the glass substrate 31, anda polarizing plate 35 is further disposed above the touch detectionelectrodes TDL.

In the color filter 32 illustrated in FIG. 9, for example, color regionscolored in three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) areperiodically arranged, and these color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B (referto FIG. 10) of the three colors of R, G, and B correspond to theabove-described respective sub-pixels SPix illustrated in FIG. 10. Thecolor regions 32R, 32G, and 32B constitute each of the pixels Pix as aset. The pixels Pix are arranged in a matrix along directions parallelto the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL, and form a display areaAd to be described later. The color filter 32 faces the liquid crystallayer 6 in the direction orthogonal to the TFT substrate 21. Thus, thesub-pixels SPix can perform monochromatic display. The color filter 32may have a combination of other colors as long as being colored indifferent colors from each other. The color filter 32 is notindispensable. Thus, an area not covered with the color filter 32 (i.e.,uncolored sub-pixels SPix) may exist.

The glass substrate 31 corresponds to a specific example of a“substrate” in the present disclosure. The color regions 32R, 32G, and32B correspond to a specific example of “color regions” in the presentdisclosure. The pixel Pix corresponds to a specific example of a “pixel”in the present disclosure. The display area Ad corresponds to a specificexample of a “display area” in the present disclosure. The touchdetection electrode TDL corresponds to a specific example of a “touchdetection electrode” in the present disclosure. The drive electrode COMLcorresponds to a specific example of a “drive electrode” in the presentdisclosure.

1-2. Operations and Actions

Subsequently, a description will be made of operations and actions ofthe display device with the touch detection function 1 of theembodiment.

The drive signals Vcom can affect each other because the drive electrodeCOML functions as a common drive electrode of the liquid crystal displayunit 20 and also as a drive electrode of the touch detection device 30.For this reason, the drive signals Vcom are applied to the driveelectrodes COML separately in a display period B in which the displayoperation is performed, and in a touch detection period A in which thetouch detection operation is performed. The drive electrode driver 14applies the drive signal Vcom as a display drive signal in the displayperiod B in which the display operation is performed. The driveelectrode driver 14 applies the drive signal Vcom as a touch drivesignal in the touch detection period A in which the touch detectionoperation is performed. The description below will describe the drivesignal Vcom serving as the display drive signal as a display drivesignal Vcomd, and the drive signal Vcom serving as the touch drivesignal as the touch drive signal Vcomt.

Overall Operation Overview

Based on the externally supplied video signal Vdisp, the control unit 11supplies the control signal to each of the gate driver 12, the sourcedriver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and the touch detection unit40 so as to operate in synchronization with each other. In the displayperiod B, the gate driver 12 supplies the scan signals Vscan to theliquid crystal display unit 20, and thus sequentially selects onehorizontal line to be display-driven. The source driver 13 supplies thepixel signals Vpix to the respective pixels Pix constituting thehorizontal line selected by the gate driver 12 in the display period B.

In the display period B, the drive electrode driver 14 applies thedisplay drive signals Vcomd to a drive electrode block related to thehorizontal line. In the touch detection period A, the drive electrodedriver 14 sequentially applies the touch drive signal Vcomt to a driveelectrode block related to the touch detection operation, and thussequentially selects one detection block. In the display period B, thedisplay unit with the touch detection function 10 performs the displayoperation based on the signals supplied from the gate driver 12, thesource driver 13, and the drive electrode driver 14. In the touchdetection period A, the display unit with the touch detection function10 performs the touch detection operation based on the signal suppliedfrom the drive electrode driver 14, and outputs the touch detectionsignal Vdet from the touch detection electrode TDL. The touch detectionsignal amplifier 42 amplifies and then outputs the touch detectionsignal Vdet. The A/D converter 43 converts the analog signal output fromthe touch detection signal amplifier 42 into the digital signal at atiming synchronized with the touch drive signal Vcomt. Based on theoutput signal of the A/D converter 43, the signal processing unit 44detects existence of a touch to the touch detection device 30. Thedetection of the touch by the signal processing unit 44 leads thecoordinate extraction unit 45 to obtain the touch panel coordinates ofthe touch.

Detailed Operation

A detailed operation of the display device with the touch detectionfunction 1 will be described below. FIG. 12 is a timing waveform diagramillustrating an operation example of the display device with the touchdetection function according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG.12, the liquid crystal display unit 20 sequentially scan on each ofhorizontal lines the adjacent scan lines GCL of (n−1)th, nth, and(n+1)th rows among the scan lines GCL based on the scan signals Vscansupplied from the gate driver 12, and thus performs the display. In asimilar manner, based on the control signal supplied from the controlunit 11, the drive electrode driver 14 supplies the drive signal Vcom tothe adjacent drive electrodes COML of (m−1)th, mth, and (m+1)th columnsamong the drive electrodes COML of the display unit with the touchdetection function 10.

In this manner, the display device with the touch detection function 1performs the touch detection operation (in the touch detection period A)and the display operation (in the display period B) in a time-divisionmanner at intervals of one horizontal display period (1H). In the touchdetection operation, the scanning of the touch detection is performed byselecting a different drive electrode COML and applying thereto thedrive signal Vcom at intervals of one horizontal display period 1H. Theoperation will be described below in detail.

First, the gate driver 12 applies the scan signal Vscan to the scan lineGCL of the (n−1)th row, and thus the level of a scan signal Vscan(n−1)changes from a low level to a high level. This starts one horizontaldisplay period 1H.

Then, in the touch detection period A, the drive electrode driver 14applies the drive signal Vcom to the drive electrode COML of the (m−1)thcolumn, and thus the level of a drive signal Vcom(m−1) changes from alow level to a high level. The drive signal Vcom(m−1) is transmitted tothe touch detection electrode TDL via the electrostatic capacitance, andthus the touch detection signal Vdet changes. Then, a change in thelevel of the drive signal Vcom(m−1) from the high level to the low levelchanges the touch detection signal Vdet in the same manner. The waveformof the touch detection signal Vdet in the touch detection period Acorresponds to the touch detection signal Vdet in the above-describedbasic principle of touch detection. The A/D converter 43 performs thetouch detection by A/D-converting the touch detection signal Vdet in thetouch detection period A. This is how the display device with the touchdetection function 1 performs the touch detection for one detectionline.

Then, in the display period B, the source driver 13 applies the pixelsignals Vpix to the signal lines SGL to perform display for onehorizontal line. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the changes in the pixelsignals Vpix can be transmitted to the touch detection electrode TDL viaparasitic capacitance so as to change the touch detection signal Vdet.However, in the display period B, keeping the A/D converter 43 fromperforming the A/D conversion can suppress the influence of the changesin the pixel signals Vpix on the touch detection. After the sourcedriver 13 finishes supplying the pixel signals Vpix, the gate driver 12changes the level of the scan signal Vscan(n−1) of the scan line GCL ofthe (n−1)th row from the high level to the low level, and thus the onehorizontal display period finishes.

Then, the gate driver 12 applies the scan signal Vscan to the scan lineGCL of the nth row that is different from the previous one, and thus thelevel of a scan signal Vscan(n) changes from a low level to a highlevel. This starts the next one horizontal display period.

In the next touch detection period A, the drive electrode driver 14applies the drive signal Vcom to the drive electrode COML of the mthcolumn that is different from the previous one. Then, the A/D converter43 A/D-converts a change in the touch detection signal Vdet, and thusthe touch detection for this detection line is performed.

Then, in the display period B, the source driver 13 applies the pixelsignals Vpix to the signal lines SGL to perform display for onehorizontal line. The drive electrode driver 14 applies the display drivesignal Vcomd as a common potential to the drive electrode COML. Thepotential of the display drive signal Vcomd is, for example, a low-levelpotential of the touch drive signal Vcomt in the touch detection periodA. The display device with the touch detection function 1 of theembodiment performs dot inversion driving, so that the pixel signalsVpix applied by the source driver 13 have a polarity opposite to that inthe previous horizontal display period. After this display period Bfinishes, this horizontal display period 1H finishes.

From then on, the display device with the touch detection function 1repeats the above-described operation to perform the display operationby scanning the entire display surface and also to perform the touchdetection operation by scanning the entire touch detection surface.

In one horizontal display period (1H), the display device with the touchdetection function 1 performs the touch detection operation during thetouch detection period A and the display operation during the displayperiod B. Performing the touch detection operation and the displayoperation in separate periods in this manner allows the display devicewith the touch detection function 1 to perform both the touch detectionoperation and the display operation in the same horizontal displayperiod and to suppress the influence of the display operation on thetouch detection.

Arrangement of Touch Detection Electrodes

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement of the touchdetection electrodes TDL according to the embodiment. FIG. 14 is aschematic diagram for explaining a relation between the touch detectionelectrode TDL according to the embodiment and the color regions 32R,32G, and 32B.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, when viewed down as a whole, the touchdetection electrode TDL according to the embodiment includes a pluralityof conductive thin wires ML extending in the same direction as adirection of extension of color regions of the same color which will bedescribed later, in a plane parallel to the counter substrate 3. Forexample, all of the conductive thin wires ML according to the embodimenthave the same shape as each other. The ends of MLe of the conductivethin wires ML are coupled with each other via first conductive portionsTDB1, and the conductive thin wires ML belong to a detection area TDA.In the detection area TDA, the conductive thin wires ML are conductivewith each other and extend at a certain interval between each other. Theinterval between the adjacent conductive thin wires ML in a color regionorthogonal direction Dx is represented as a conductive thin wireinterval P. For example, the conductive thin wire interval P accordingto the embodiment is constant. The conductive thin wires ML according tothe embodiment extend in the direction of a straight line connecting oneof the ends MLe to the other of the ends MLe in each one of theconductive thin wires ML. The conductive thin wires ML extend in thelongitudinal direction of a shape occupied by each one of the conductivethin wires ML.

More than one of the detection areas TDA extends with a certain spacebetween each other. The first conductive portions TDB1 of the detectionareas TDA are coupled to be conductive with each other via a secondconductive portion TDB2. The second conductive portion TDB2 is coupledto the touch detection unit 40 illustrated in FIG. 1 via detectionwiring TDG. The first conductive portions TDB1 and the second conductiveportions TDB2 are formed of the same material as that of the conductivethin wires ML. The above-described configuration can reduce the numberof conductive thin wires ML, and causes the touch detection to beperformed by a plurality of metal wires ML for a certain area so as tobe able to reduce the resistance during the touch detection.

The conductive thin wire ML includes a portion at which the conductivethin wire ML extends in the direction at an angle θL with respect to thedirection of extension of the color regions which will be describedlater. The conductive thin wire ML also includes a portion at which theconductive thin wire ML extends in the direction at an angle θR withrespect to the direction of extension of the color regions which will bedescribed later. For example, the angle θL is equal to the angle θRaccording to the embodiment. The conductive thin wire ML forms a zigzagline or a wavy line bent at bent portions TDCL and TDCR. The length ofan offset in the color region orthogonal direction Dx from one of thebent portions TDCL to one of the bent portions TDCR next to the bentportion TDCL in each one of the conductive thin wires ML is representedas an inter-bent-portion length b. For example, the inter-bent-portionlength b according to the embodiment is constant. The conductive thinwire ML preferably has a width which is in a range of 3 μm to 10 μm.This is because the width of the conductive thin wire ML of 10 μm orsmaller reduces an area covering an aperture of the display area Adthrough which light transmission is not suppressed by a black matrix orby the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL, and thus reduces thepossibility of reducing an aperture ratio. This is also because thewidth of the conductive thin wire ML of 3 μm or larger stabilizes theshape thereof, and thus reduces the possibility of breaking thereof.

The conductive thin wire ML of the touch detection electrode TDL is ofan electrically conductive metal material, and is formed of a metalmaterial, such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), molybdenum(Mo), chromium (Cr), tungsten (W), or an alloy of these materials.Alternatively, the conductive thin wire ML of the touch detectionelectrode TDL is formed of an oxide (metal oxide) of aluminum (Al),copper (Cu), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), or tungsten(W), and has electric conductivity. The conductive thin wire ML may be apatterned laminated body that has one or more layers of theabove-described metal material and/or the above-described metal oxide.The conductive thin wire ML may be a patterned laminated body that hasone or more layers of the metal material or the metal oxide describedabove, and/or a translucent conductive oxide such as ITO as a materialof translucent electrodes. The conductive thin wire ML has a lowerresistance than that of the translucent conductive oxide such as ITO asa material of translucent electrodes. The material of the conductivethin wire ML has a lower transmittance value than that of a material ofITO having the same film thickness. For example, the material of theconductive thin wire ML may have a transmittance value of 10% or less.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the detection areas TDA are arranged with acertain space between each other. Areas in which the conductive thinwires ML of the touch detection electrode TDL are arranged and areas inwhich the conductive thin wires ML of the touch detection electrode TDLare not arranged have different levels of light-shielding effect fromeach other. This can cause the touch detection electrode TDL to beeasily visible. Therefore, dummy electrodes TDD that are not connectedto the detection wiring TDG are each arranged between the adjacentdetection areas TDA at the counter substrate 3. The dummy electrodes TDDare formed of the same material as that of the conductive thin wires MLof the touch detection electrode TDL. The conductive thin wires MLd ofthe dummy electrodes TDD may be formed of other material, and only needsto have a level of the light-shielding effect comparable with that ofthe touch detection electrode TDL.

Each of the dummy electrodes TDD illustrated in FIG. 13 includes aplurality of such conductive thin wires MLd extending in the planeparallel to the counter substrate 3. The conductive thin wires MLd arethe conductive thin wires ML not coupled to the first conductiveportions TDB1. The conductive thin wires MLd are arranged so as to havethe conductive thin wire interval P between the adjacent conductive thinwires MLd. This reduces the difference in the level of thelight-shielding effect between the areas arranged with the touchdetection electrodes TDL and the areas not arranged therewith, and thuscan reduce the possibility of the touch detection electrode TDL beingseen.

Each of the conductive thin wires MLd includes split portions TDDS thatare slits not containing the same material as that of the conductivethin wire ML in positions corresponding to the bent portions TDCL andTDCR lying in the conductive thin wire ML. This follows that the splitportions TDDS prevent electrical conduction between portions formingdifferent angles with respect to the direction of extension of theconductive thin wires MLd, and thus generate a difference in capacitancefrom the touch detection electrode. This can reduce an influence of thedummy electrode TDD on the absolute value |ΔV| illustrated in FIG. 6when a finger approaches both the touch detection electrode TDL and thedummy electrode TDD during the touch detection. In this manner, thesplit portions TDDS split the dummy electrode TDD into portions having asmaller area than that of the conductive thin wire ML of the touchdetection electrode TDL, and thereby can reduce the influence of thedummy electrode TDD on accuracy of the touch detection. The splitportions TDDS may lie in some of the positions corresponding to the bentportions TDCL and TDCR lying in the conductive thin wire ML. The splitportions TDDS may lie, for example, only in positions corresponding tothe bent portions TDCL lying in the conductive thin wire ML.

Using FIG. 14, a description will be made below of the relation betweenthe conductive thin wires ML and the color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B.FIG. 14 is an enlarged diagram of a portion of the conductive thin wiresML illustrated in FIG. 13. As described above, the display area Adincludes the pixels Pix, each of which includes as a set the colorregions 32R, 32G, and 32B corresponding to the respective sub-pixelsSPix. The pixels Pix are arranged in a matrix along the directionsparallel to the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL. The colorregions of the same color extend so as to form a column parallel to thesignal lines SGL. The color region orthogonal direction Dx is adirection orthogonal to the direction of extension of the color regionsof the same color. The width in the color region orthogonal direction Dxof each of the color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B is represented as a colorregion width d.

The conductive thin wires ML overlap a surface of the display area Ad ina direction orthogonal thereto. The conductive thin wires ML arearranged so that the conductive thin wire interval P is smaller than thesum of the inter-bent-portion length b and the color region width d. Inother words, the conductive thin wires ML are arranged so as to satisfyFormula (1) below.P<b+d  (1)

In addition, the conductive thin wire interval P is preferably equal toor larger than the inter-bent-portion length b. In other words, theconductive thin wires ML preferably further satisfy Formula (2) below.b≤P  (2)

Moreover, the conductive thin wire interval P is specifically preferablyequal to or smaller than 160 μm. In other words, the conductive thinwires ML preferably further satisfy Formula (3) below. This is becausethe conductive thin wire interval P of 160 μm or smaller makes theconductive thin wires ML less likely to be resolved with resolving powerof human eyes, and thus less likely to be seen.P≤160 μm  (3)

1-3. Operational Advantages

As described above, the pixels Pix are arranged in a matrix along thedirections parallel to the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL. Ifthe scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL are covered with the blackmatrix, the black matrix keeps light from transmitting. If the scanlines GCL and the signal lines SGL are not covered with the blackmatrix, the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL keep light fromtransmitting. In the embodiment, a periodic pattern of a plurality ofstraight lines along the direction parallel to the scan lines GCL islikely to appear in the display area Ad. A periodic pattern of aplurality of straight lines along the direction parallel to the signallines SGL is likely to appear in the display area Ad. Therefore, whenthe touch detection electrodes TDL overlap the surface of the displayarea Ad in the direction orthogonal thereto, the patterns appearing inthe display area Ad interfere the touch detection electrodes TDL to forma light-dark pattern, and thereby a moire pattern can be seen. The moirepattern can more probably be seen particularly when the conductive thinwires ML are shaped like straight lines parallel to the scan lines GCLor the signal lines SGL. When the conductive thin wires ML shield lightof a certain color region among the color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B, adifference in luminance is generated between the color regions, so thatthe moire pattern can be seen.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the conductive thin wires ML according to theembodiment extend in the same direction as the direction of extension ofthe color regions, when viewed down as a whole. The conductive thinwires ML include portions forming an angle with respect to the directionof extension of the color regions, when viewed partially. The directionof extension of the color regions corresponds to the direction parallelto the signal lines SGL. The conductive thin wires ML form the zigzaglines or wavy lines, and include the portions forming an angle withrespect to the scan lines GCL or the signal lines SGL. This allows thedisplay device with the touch detection function 1 according to theembodiment to reduce the possibility of the moire pattern being seenmore than in the case in which the conductive thin wires ML are shapedlike straight lines parallel to the scan lines GCL or the signal linesSGL.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, each of the conductive thin wires MLaccording to the embodiment includes portions overlapping all of thecolumns of colors formed by the color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B in thedirection orthogonal to the surface of the display area Ad. This makesthe conductive thin wires ML less likely to shield the light of acertain color region among the color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B. This, inturn, makes the display device with the touch detection function 1according to the embodiment less likely to generate the difference inthe luminance between the color regions, and thus reduces thepossibility of the moire pattern being seen.

All of the conductive thin wires ML according to the embodiment have thesame shape, and are arranged so as to satisfy Formula (1) given above.This makes the conductive thin wires ML regularly arranged, and thusmakes each of the conductive thin wires ML less easy to be seen. This,in turn, can make the conductive thin wires ML of the display devicewith the touch detection function 1 according to the embodiment lesslikely to be seen by a person. The satisfaction of Formula (1) givenabove inevitably makes each of the conductive thin wires ML include theportions overlapping all of the columns of colors formed by the colorregions 32R, 32G, and 32B in the direction orthogonal to the surface ofthe display area Ad. This makes the conductive thin wires ML less likelyto shield the light of a certain color region among the color regions32R, 32G, and 32B. This, in turn, makes the display device with thetouch detection function 1 according to the embodiment less likely togenerate the difference in the luminance between the color regions, andthus reduces the possibility of the moire pattern being seen.

In addition, the satisfaction of Formula (2) given above maintains theinterval between the adjacent conductive thin wires ML at a certainvalue or larger. This reduces the area by which the conductive thinwires ML cover the aperture of the display area Ad through which thelight transmission is not suppressed by the black matrix or by the scanlines GCL and the signal lines SGL. This, in turn, can further reducethe possibility of reducing the aperture ratio of the display devicewith the touch detection function 1 according to the embodiment.

The angles θR and θL are preferably in a range of 30 degrees to 40degrees, or 50 degrees to 60 degrees. This makes the angles of theconductive thin wires ML equal to or larger than a certain degree withrespect to the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL, and therebyhelps the period of the light-dark pattern to be small enough so thatthe person cannot see the pattern. This can reduce the possibility ofthe moire pattern being seen.

1-4. First Modification of Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining a relation between a touchdetection electrode TDL according to a first modification of theembodiment and the color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B. For example, all ofa plurality of conductive thin wires ML according to the firstmodification of the embodiment have the same shape as each other. Forexample, a conductive thin wire interval P1 according to the firstmodification of the embodiment is constant.

The length of an offset in the color region orthogonal direction Dx froma bent portion TDC1 to a bent portion TDC2 next to the bent portion TDC1in each one of the conductive thin wires ML is represented as aninter-bent-portion length b1. The direction of extension of a portionconnecting the bent portion TDC1 to the bent portion TDC2 in theconductive thin wire ML forms an angle θ1 with respect to the directionof extension of the conductive thin wire ML.

The length of an offset in the color region orthogonal direction Dx fromthe bent portion TDC2 to a bent portion TDC3 next to the bent portionTDC2 in each one of the conductive thin wires ML is represented as aninter-bent-portion length b2. The direction of extension of a portionconnecting the bent portion TDC2 to the bent portion TDC3 in theconductive thin wire ML forms an angle θ2 with respect to the directionof extension of the conductive thin wire ML.

The length of an offset in the color region orthogonal direction Dx fromthe bent portion TDC3 to a bent portion TDC4 next to the bent portionTDC3 in each one of the conductive thin wires ML is represented as aninter-bent-portion length b3. The direction of extension of a portionconnecting the bent portion TDC3 to the bent portion TDC4 in theconductive thin wire ML forms an angle θ3 with respect to the directionof extension of the conductive thin wire ML.

The length of an offset in the color region orthogonal direction Dx fromthe bent portion TDC4 to a bent portion TDC5 next to the bent portionTDC4 in each one of the conductive thin wires ML is represented as aninter-bent-portion length b4. The direction of extension of a portionconnecting the bent portion TDC4 to the bent portion TDC5 in theconductive thin wire ML forms an angle θ4 with respect to the directionof extension of the conductive thin wire ML.

Among the inter-bent-portion lengths b1, b2, b3, and b4, theinter-bent-portion length b1 is the shortest; the inter-bent-portionlength b4 is the second shortest to the inter-bent-portion length b1;and the inter-bent-portion lengths b2 and b3 are the longest.

When the inter-bent-portion lengths b1, b2, b3, and b4 are not equallengths as described above, the conductive thin wires ML are arranged sothat the conductive thin wire interval P1 is smaller than the sum of theinter-bent-portion length b1 (i.e., the smallest length of theinter-bent-portion lengths b1, b2, b3, and b4) and the color regionwidth d. In other words, the conductive thin wires ML are arranged so asto satisfy Formula (4) below.P1<b1+d  (4)

In addition, the conductive thin wire interval P1 is preferably equal toor larger than the inter-bent-portion length b1. In other words, theconductive thin wires ML preferably further satisfy Formula (5) below.b1≤P1  (5)

Moreover, the conductive thin wire interval P1 is specificallypreferably equal to or smaller than 160 μm. In other words, theconductive thin wires ML preferably further satisfy Formula (6) below.This is because the conductive thin wire interval P of 160 μm or smallermakes the conductive thin wires ML less likely to be resolved with theresolving power of the human eyes, and thus less likely to be seen.P1≤160 μm  (6)

1-5. Operational Advantages

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the conductive thin wires ML according to thefirst modification of the embodiment extend in the same direction as thedirection of extension of the color regions, when viewed down as awhole. The conductive thin wires ML include portions forming an anglewith respect to the direction of extension of the color regions, whenviewed partially. The direction of extension of the color regionscorresponds to the direction parallel to the signal lines SGL. Theconductive thin wires ML form the zigzag lines or wavy lines, andinclude the portions forming an angle with respect to the scan lines GCLor the signal lines SGL. This allows the display device with the touchdetection function 1 according to the embodiment to reduce thepossibility of the moire pattern being seen more than in the case inwhich the conductive thin wires ML are shaped like straight linesparallel to the scan lines GCL or the signal lines SGL.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, each of the conductive thin wires MLaccording to the first modification of the embodiment includes portionsoverlapping all of the columns of colors formed by the color regions32R, 32G, and 32B in the direction orthogonal to the surface of thedisplay area Ad. This makes the conductive thin wires ML less likely toshield the light of a certain color region among the color regions 32R,32G, and 32B. This, in turn, makes the display device with the touchdetection function 1 according to the embodiment less likely to generatethe difference in the luminance between the color regions, and thusreduces the possibility of the moire pattern being seen.

All of the conductive thin wires ML according to the first modificationof the embodiment have the same shape, and are arranged so as to satisfyFormula (4) given above. This makes the conductive thin wires MLregularly arranged, and thus makes each of the conductive thin wires MLless easy to be seen. This, in turn, can make the conductive thin wiresML of the display device with the touch detection function 1 accordingto the first modification of the embodiment less likely to be seen bythe person. The satisfaction of Formula (4) given above inevitably makeseach of the conductive thin wires ML include the portions overlappingall of the columns formed of the color regions of the same color in thedirection orthogonal to the surface of the display area Ad. This makesthe conductive thin wires ML less likely to shield the light of acertain color region among the color regions 32R, 32G, and 32B. This, inturn, makes the display device with the touch detection function 1according to the embodiment less likely to generate the difference inthe luminance between the color regions, and thus reduces thepossibility of the moire pattern being seen.

In addition, the satisfaction of Formula (5) given above maintains theinterval between the adjacent conductive thin wires ML at a certainvalue or larger. This reduces the area by which the conductive thinwires ML cover the aperture of the display area Ad through which thelight transmission is not suppressed by the black matrix or by the scanlines GCL and the signal lines SGL. This, in turn, can further reducethe possibility of reducing the aperture ratio of the display devicewith the touch detection function 1 according to the embodiment.

The angles θ1, θ2, θ3, and θ4 are in a range of preferably 30 degrees to40 degrees, or 50 degrees to 60 degrees. This makes the angles of theconductive thin wires ML equal to or larger than a certain degree withrespect to the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGL, and therebyhelps the period of the light-dark pattern to be small enough so thatthe person cannot see the pattern. This can reduce the possibility ofthe moire pattern being seen.

1-6. Second Modification of Embodiment

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a second modification of the embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In the display device with the touch detectionfunction 1 according to the embodiment and the modifications thereofdescribed above, the liquid crystal display unit 20 using the liquidcrystals of one of the various modes, such as the FFS mode and the IPSmode, can be integrated with the touch detection device 30 to providethe display unit with the touch detection function 10. A display unitwith a touch detection function 10 according to the second modificationof the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16 may instead be provided byintegrating the touch detection device with liquid crystals of one ofvarious modes, such as a twisted nematic (TN) mode, a vertical alignment(VA) mode, and an electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) mode.

2. Application Examples

With reference to FIGS. 17 to 29, a description will be made below ofapplication examples of the display device with the touch detectionfunction 1 described in the embodiment and the modifications thereof.FIGS. 17 to 29 are diagrams each illustrating an example of anelectronic apparatus to which the display device with the touchdetection function or the display device according to theabove-mentioned embodiment and the modifications thereof is applied. Thedisplay device with the touch detection function 1 or the display deviceaccording to the above-mentioned embodiment and the modificationsthereof can be applied to electronic apparatuses in all fields, such astelevision devices, digital cameras, laptop computers, portableelectronic apparatuses including mobile phones, and video cameras. Inother words, the display device with the touch detection function 1 orthe display device according to the above-described embodiment and themodifications thereof can be applied to electronic apparatuses in allfields that display externally received video signals or internallygenerated video signals as images or video pictures.

Application Example 1

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 17 is a television deviceto which the display device with the touch detection function 1 or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and the modifications thereofis applied. This television device includes, for example, a videodisplay screen unit 510 that includes a front panel 511 and a filterglass 512. The video display screen unit 510 corresponds to the displaydevice with the touch detection function 1 or the display deviceaccording to the embodiment and the modifications thereof.

Application Example 2

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 is a digitalcamera to which the display device with the touch detection function 1or the display device according to the embodiment and the modificationsthereof is applied. This digital camera includes, for example, alight-emitting unit 521 for flash, a display unit 522, a menu switch523, and a shutter button 524. The display unit 522 corresponds to thedisplay device with the touch detection function 1 or the display deviceaccording to the embodiment and the modifications thereof.

Application Example 3

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 20 represents an externalappearance of a video camera to which the display device with the touchdetection function 1 or the display device according to the embodimentand the modifications thereof is applied. This video camera includes,for example, a body 531, a lens 532 for photographing a subject providedon the front side face of the body 531, and a start/stop switch 533 forphotographing, and a display unit 534. The display unit 534 correspondsto the display device with the touch detection function 1 or the displaydevice according to the embodiment and the modifications thereof.

Application Example 4

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 21 is a laptop computer towhich the display device with the touch detection function 1 or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and the modifications thereofis applied. This laptop computer includes, for example, a body 541, akeyboard 542 for input operation of characters, for example, and adisplay unit 543 that displays images. The display unit 543 correspondsto the display device with the touch detection function 1 or the displaydevice according to the embodiment and the modifications thereof.

Application Example 5

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 29 is a mobile phoneto which the display device with the touch detection function 1 or thedisplay device according to the embodiment and the modifications thereofis applied. This mobile phone is, for example, composed of an upperhousing 551 and a lower housing 552 connected to each other by aconnection unit (hinge unit) 553, and includes a display 554, asubdisplay 555, a picture light 556, and a camera 557. The display 554and/or the subdisplay 555 correspond(s) to the display device with thetouch detection function 1 or the display device according to theembodiment and the modifications thereof.

Application Example 6

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 29 is a portableinformation terminal that operates as a portable computer, amultifunctional mobile phone, a portable computer with voice callcapability, or a portable computer with communication capability, andthat is sometimes called a smartphone or a tablet computer. Thisportable information terminal includes, for example, a display unit 562on a surface of a housing 561. The display unit 562 corresponds to thedisplay device with the touch detection function 1 or the display deviceaccording to the embodiment and the modifications thereof.

3. Aspects of Present Disclosure

The present disclosure includes the following aspects.

(I) A display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a substrate;

a display area in which pixels each constituted by different colorregions are arranged in a matrix in a plane parallel to a surface of thesubstrate and that includes color columns in which the color regions ofthe same colors extend side by side;

a touch detection electrode that includes a plurality of conductive thinwires extending in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate; and

a drive electrode that has electrostatic capacitance with respect to thetouch detection electrode, wherein

each of the conductive thin wires includes a plurality of portions ateach of which the conductive thin wire extends in a direction at anangle with respect to a direction of extension of the color regions, anda plurality of bent portions at each of which the conductive thin wireis bent with the angle changed, and

the conductive thin wires include portions each overlapping all of thecolor columns in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the substrate.

(II) The display device with the touch detection function according to(I), wherein

all of the conductive thin wires have the same shape; and

the display device satisfies the following formula (1):P<b+d  (1)

where a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the colorregions of the same colors in the plane parallel to the surface of thesubstrate is defined as a color region orthogonal direction, an intervalbetween the adjacent conductive thin wires in the color regionorthogonal direction is denoted by P, a minimum length of an offset inthe color region orthogonal direction from one of the bent portions toanother bent portion next to the bent portion in the same one of theconductive thin wires is denoted by b, and a width in the color regionorthogonal direction of each of the color regions is denoted by d.

(III) The display device with the touch detection function according to(II), further satisfying the following formula (2):b≤P  (2).(IV) The display device with the touch detection function according to(II), further satisfying the following formula (3):P≤160 μm  (3).(V) An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display device with a touch detection function that comprises:

a substrate;

a display area in which pixels each constituted by different colorregions are arranged in a matrix in a plane parallel to a surface of thesubstrate and that includes color columns in which the color regions ofthe same colors extend side by side;

a touch detection electrode that includes a plurality of conductive thinwires extending in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate; and

a drive electrode that has electrostatic capacitance with respect to thetouch detection electrode, wherein

each of the conductive thin wires includes a plurality of portions ateach of which the conductive thin wire extends in a direction at anangle with respect to a direction of extension of the color regions, anda plurality of bent portions at each of which the conductive thin wireis bent with the angle changed, and

the conductive thin wires include portions each overlapping all of thecolor columns in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the substrate.

A display device with a touch detection function and an electronicapparatus of the present disclosure can reduce the possibility of amoire pattern being seen, while including touch detection electrodes ofan electrically conductive material such as a metallic material.

An electronic apparatus of the present disclosure includes theabove-described display device with a touch detection function. Examplesof the electronic apparatus of the present disclosure include, but arenot limited to, a television device, a digital camera, a personalcomputer, a video camera, and a portable electronic apparatus such as amobile phone.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A display device with a touchdetection function comprising: a substrate; a display area in whichpixels each constituted by a plurality of different color regionscorresponding to a plurality of different colors are arranged in amatrix in a plane parallel to a surface of the substrate and thatincludes color columns in each of which the color regions of a samecolor extend side by side; a touch detection electrode that includes aplurality of conductive thin wires extending in a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate; and a drive electrode that has electrostaticcapacitance with respect to the touch detection electrode, each of theconductive thin wires includes a plurality of line portions at each ofwhich the conductive thin wires extend in a direction at an angle withrespect to a direction of extension of the color columns, and aplurality of bent portions at each of which the conductive thin wiresare bent with the angle changed, in each conductive thin wire, each lineportion is sandwiched between adjacent bent portions, each line portionincluded in each of the conductive thin wires includes portions eachoverlapping all of the plurality of different colors in a directionorthogonal to the surface of the substrate, each of the conductive thinwires has a zigzag-line shape in which the line portion and the bentportion are arranged alternately and repeatedly, at least one of theconductive thin wires has a plurality of lengths b different from eachother, where each of the lengths b is a length of an offset in a colorregion orthogonal direction from one of the bent portions to anotherbent portion next to the bent portion in the same one of, and on thesame side of, the conductive thin wires, and the color region orthogonaldirection is a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of thecolor columns of the same colors in the plane parallel to the surface ofthe substrate, the plurality of lengths b includes a first length b1 anda second length b2, the first length b1 is a length of an offset in thecolor region orthogonal direction from a first bent portion to a secondbent portion next to the first bent portion, the second length b2 is alength of an offset in the color region orthogonal direction from thesecond bent portion to a third bent portion next to the second bentportion, and the first length b1 and the second length b2 satisfy thefollowing relation:b1<b2.
 2. The display device according to claim 1, satisfying thefollowing formula (1):P<b+d  (1) where P is an interval between adjacent conductive thin wiresin the color region orthogonal direction, and d is a width in the colorregion orthogonal direction of each of the color regions.
 3. The displaydevice according to claim 2, wherein b in the formula (1) is b1, and b1is a minimum length of the lengths b.
 4. The display device according toclaim 1, satisfying the following formula (2):b<P  (2) where P is an interval between adjacent conductive thin wiresin the color region orthogonal direction.
 5. The display deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein b in the formula (2) is b1, and b1 is aminimum length of the lengths b.
 6. The display device according toclaim 1, further satisfying the following formula (3):P≤160 μm  (3) where P is an interval between adjacent conductive thinwires in the color region orthogonal direction.
 7. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the conductive thin wires has awidth less than d, where d is a width in the color region orthogonaldirection of each of the color regions.
 8. An electronic apparatuscomprising: a display device with a touch detection function thatcomprises: a substrate; a display area in which pixels each constitutedby a plurality of different color regions corresponding to a pluralityof different colors are arranged in a matrix in a plane parallel to asurface of the substrate and that includes color columns in each ofwhich the color regions of a same color extend side by side; a touchdetection electrode that includes a plurality of conductive thin wiresextending in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate; and adrive electrode that has electrostatic capacitance with respect to thetouch detection electrode, wherein each of the conductive thin wiresincludes a plurality of line portions at each of which the conductivethin wires extend in a direction at an angle with respect to a directionof extension of the color columns, and a plurality of bent portions ateach of which the conductive thin wires are bent with the angle changed,in each conductive thin wire, each line portion is sandwiched betweenadjacent bent portions, each line portion included in each of theconductive thin wires includes portions each overlapping all of theplurality of different colors in a direction orthogonal to the surfaceof the substrate, each of the conductive thin wires has a zigzag-lineshape in which the line portion and the bent portion are arrangedalternately and repeatedly, at least one of the conductive thin wireshas a plurality of lengths b different from each other, where each ofthe lengths b is a length of an offset in a color region orthogonaldirection from one of the bent portions to another bent portion next tothe bent portion in the same one of, and on the same side of, theconductive thin wires, and the color region orthogonal direction is adirection orthogonal to the direction of extension of the color columnsof the same colors in the plane parallel to the surface of thesubstrate, the plurality of lengths b includes a first length b1 and asecond length b2, the first length b1 is a length of an offset in thecolor region orthogonal direction from a first bent portion to a secondbent portion next to the first bent portion, the second length b2 is alength of an offset in the color region orthogonal direction from thesecond bent portion to a third bent portion next to the second bentportion, and the first length b1 and the second length b2 satisfy thefollowing relation:b1<b2.